Earmarks included in fiscal cliff deal
The VP of Taxpayers for Common Sense, Steve Ellis, discusses tax incentives in the fiscal cliff bill that cater to special interests.
KTH: Fiscal cliff deal filled with pork
So what is really in the fiscal cliff legislation?
Of course, there are the widely-known sticking points the two sides have been haggling over for weeks: extensions of the income tax cuts for middle and low-income earners, the current estate tax rate, and the alternative minimum tax.
But there's also a provision on two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles, renewable energy, and rum.
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which passed the Senate early Tuesday morning, is a vehicle for a number of regular year-end tax extenders.
Among the extensions is the excise tax carry-over on rum produced in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It's a federal tax of which most is paid back to the islands.
Norquist: Fiscal deal doesn't violate pledge
Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist says technically lawmakers didn't violate their anti-tax pledge by voting in favor of the fiscal cliff deal, which increases tax cuts on households earning more than $450,000 annually.
He argues that because the Bush tax cuts expired the day before the vote, legislators were essentially cutting taxes by supporting the new bill that passed in the Senate and House on January 1.
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Post by: Filed under: Congress • Economy • Fiscal Cliff • Taxes |
KTH: No deal days before fiscal cliff deadline
Three days before 2012 ends, the president and House and Senate leaders meet to negotiate on a last-minute agreement. They're scrambling to meet a deadline they created – we're Keeping Them Honest.
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Post by: Filed under: Congress • Economy • Fiscal Cliff • Keeping Them Honest • President Obama • Taxes |
KTH: The making of the fiscal cliff problem
Keeping Them Honest, Democrats and Republicans vowed to work to get the fiscal house in order, but no progress has been made.
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Post by: Filed under: Congress • Economy • Fiscal Cliff • Keeping Them Honest • President Obama • Taxes |
Why both sides want to go over the cliff
Ross Douthat and Charles Blow discuss what's motivating Democrats and Republicans in the stalled fiscal cliff talks.
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Post by: Filed under: Congress • Economy • Fiscal Cliff • President Obama • Raw Politics • Taxes |
Obama, congressional leaders to discuss impending fiscal cliff
President Barack Obama and congressional leaders will discuss the looming fiscal cliff impasse Friday at the White House, aiming for a last-minute deal to stave off automatic tax increases and spending cuts.
The 3 p.m. meeting - which will include Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker John Boeher, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell - will come days before the deadline to reach a deal, and after another day of Republicans and Democrats blaming each other for the stalemate.
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Post by: Filed under: Congress • Dana Bash • Fiscal Cliff • Jessica Yellin • President Obama |
Fiscal deadline: Ball in Senate's Court
Dana Bash says her sources say odds of a fiscal cliff dive remain high, while some say a last-minute bill could pass.
Signs of progress in fiscal cliff battle
President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner talk for the first time in a week, edging closer towards a deal.
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Post by: Filed under: Dana Bash • David Gergen • Fiscal Cliff • Jessica Yellin |
Lessons on how Congress can compromise
Former Senator Trent Lott's fiscal cliff negotiation advice: Quit talking at each other, sit down, and talk with each other. His recommendation to Congress and the President is to..."quit campaigning, quit having press conferences, sit down at a round table and negotiate a deal."
FULL POST
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Post by: Filed under: Fiscal Cliff • Trent Lott |
